U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, whose 50th District includes Point Loma and Ocean Beach, is ing a growing number of fellow Democratic of Congress in calling for President Joe Biden, also a fellow Democrat, to end his reelection campaign after Biden’s June 27 debate performance against Republican Donald Trump raised wide concerns about the president’s fitness for a second term.
Though Peters, a La Jolla resident, said in a statement that “the nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to President Biden” and that his shaky debate performance “did not diminish his remarkable accomplishments and record of service,” the debate “raised real concern among elected leaders, ers and voters that the president will not be able to wage a winning campaign.”
“After a long primary process, we were on track to lose coming into the debate. … This was not a blip,” Peters said. “And while the Biden campaign claims the post-debate national polls remain relatively unchanged, polling in the swing states has worsened alarmingly.”
Therefore, he said, “I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the president and those around him.
“We must find a candidate from our deep bench of talent who can defeat Donald Trump. That means fielding a ticket that can win in the swing states where Democrats are not dominant but where this election will be decided. The candidate must be selected through a fair and transparent process.”
Peters’ comments came just after Biden held a news conference the evening of July 11 intended to reassure the public that he still has the strength, stamina and mental acuity to be president. He has insisted he won’t leave the race despite increased urging from Democratic lawmakers and other ers asking him to step aside.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
